Integral Introduction

what is integral theory? We are blessed historically to be living in the information age where we have access to every cultures knowledge, experience and wisdom. But the issue becomes that there is significantly more information then we could ever process, and what are we to do with this overload? the prominent philosopher ken wilber worked to discover what each of these cultures had in common and discovered the overlapping truths each wisdom tradition discovered and while adding some elements himself much of his work was the synthesizing of many past truths into the larger whole that is integral theory; a map of reality and of human development. Since the term integral, to connect, unite, yoke, it aims on unifying everything into a more powerful whole based on principles such as non-exclusion and enactment. Non-exclusion meaning that everything is true but partial, meaning their is space for every perspective, and every truth no matter its limitations. Enactment that everyone will experience something from their own unique perspective, so claims such as you should do this, wont be accurate for everyone else.

Holonic Theory The first concept of integral theory, is that of a holon. Which is a term coined by arthur koestler to signify anything that is both a whole and a part simultaneously.This is an important concept that is the basis of integral theory because if integral is to be a theory of everything, the underlying pattern that connects everything together then things being both wholes and parts is the condition for the interconnection. Give example. Though this applies to everything, for everything is both a whole and a part. An important element of the concept of a holon is that each greater whole: transcends and includes its parts. It is not merely the sum of its parts nor does it go beyond them and then desert them.

AQAL - All Quadrants, All Levels, All Lines, All States and All TypesThe Five Elements of AQAL Theory

Quadrants If we take any holon and divide it into its most primary components we get at least 4 primary dimensions, which Ken Wilber coined the four quadrants. These primary components are the interior and exterior of the individual and collective.

The Interior of the Individual is their subjective experience, also known by the pronoun "I". No one else has access to this, which consists of thoughts, feelings, sensation, desire, values, beliefs, identity and experience. The Interior of the Collective is shared subjective experience, also known as "We". This is a magical occurance that as I am talking to you know, with the magic of language that we can share information together. This also includes other shared subjective experience such as being in the same location, being interested in self-development. Perhaps some of you share this interest, perhaps shared confusion, or shared boredom, or shared culture. The exterior of the individual is an object. This computer for example, is not me. It is an object outside of myself. I can interact with it, but we dont have mutual understanding like with the We Space. Its a thing not a person. The exterior of the collective is interobjective, or systems. It is the whole to which something is a part of. So for example, my computer is part of this room, its connected to the electricity, to the internet.

One of the immediate applications of the four quadrants is to ensure that no quadrant or dimension of existence is reduced to the other. This means that science cannot reduce everything down to atoms or psychologists cannot reduce everything to behavior. Another application is to understand how each quadrant effects another. To be aware of how when you see a particular object, such as a coke advertisement, you may be aware of how you develop a desire to drink it, how it shapes your behavior as you start walking to the store, how when you drink the coke, the sugar and caffeine effect your body and your subjective experience, how you feel left out though because all your friends drink pepsi, how you worked hard for the money to buy the coke, how you want to lose weight but find yourself drinking coke anyways and how this entire web and system of cause and effect operates. To know that this happens like clockwork 50% of the time. Another application is in relation to meditation and how through learning to objectify phenomenon, you can have better control of it. If you are not aware of what is going on then it happens unconsciously. Or how things are interconnected, such as the relationship between desire and behaviour, or intention and consequence, relationships and behaviour. Another application is to understand your preferred quadrant. I for example, prefer to the upper-left, intentional, psychological. I am often a man of lots of theory and very little action, often a hermit, neglecting people and the world.

Lines of Development

The concept of lines of development, derives heavily from the work of psychologist Howard Gardner, who coined the term multiple intelligences. Which was a model to replace the older concept of IQ, whereas Gardner saw that there were multiple areas of development that could improve relatively independently. Integral Theory divides the lines or multiple intelligences into three broad categories; cognitive lines, self-related lines and skills/talents/capacities.

Cognitive is considered still one of the most important lines of development as it is the prerequisite of so many. It includes the scope and depth of ones awareness and also ones capacity to take perspectives. (not confined to the waking state) For example, to have a strong sense of moral capacity, one must be able to take the perspective of another person, which requires a certain level of cognitive development. Self-Related lines include ones sense of identity, morals, needs, values, emotional and interpersonal skills. Talents/Capacities/Skills can be developed across a wide range.

There is a certain level of overlap between various lines which is why integral theory is considered a map, not the actual territory itself. Nonetheless here are some examples of various lines of development.

Any line can be measured from a simple to complex scale (complex containing more levels). The simpler the scale the easier it is to use but more it will be missing, nonetheless this is a simple practical scale, just remember in reality things are always much more complex.

One of the most important notions of lines and levels, is that they do develop.

Low can be dysfunctionalMedium can be functionalHigh can be the possibility of great skill, an assetVery high can be exemplary capacity

Some of the benefits of understanding the various lines of development and how they develop is that one can come to understand how ones life is affected by our strengths and weaknesses across various areas. Also why there may be certain conflicts when certain people interact.

States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness are the 5 bodies which are named gross (physical body), subtle (mind*), casual (everything), witness (nothingness/awareness) and non-dual (everything/nothing). The states of consciousness are different from stages because we always have access to these 5 states whereas stages must be grown into. It also refers to altered states, peak states and meditative states. States are experienced by everyone; even a child has waking, dreaming and deep sleep; though they will interpret it based on their stage of development.

Gross – The gross body co-relates with the waking state. Gross is the physical body. When conscious awareness pervades the gross body health improves as muscles are relaxed, posture is upright, awareness of how ones actions affect the body becomes conscious. This leads to a change in diet as the cause and effect nature becomes known. Pain-killers numb this awareness which is pleasurable but not condusive to the mind-body connection. Mystical experiences of this state are known as nature mysticism. This is where one experiences God as nature or in a physical form.

Subtle – The subtle body co-relates with the dream state. Subtle is non-physical body including thoughts, emotions, intuition and energy; basically everything that is not physical. This is why when you are dreaming your physical body (gross body) does not actually exist in your awareness. You have a subtle energy body instead. When consciousness pervades this state lucid dreams are the result (where one realizes one is dreaming and can exercise conscious control over dreams) along with non-reactivity in the waking state. Mystical experiences of this state are known as Deity Mysticism and usually consist of being visited by a Deity; angels, aliens, a saint, guru, manifestation of God etc. The reason for the variation is the interpretation is based on ones culture and beliefs. A Christian would experience Jesus or Mary, whereas a Hindu may experience Krishna or Ganesha.

Casual – The Casual body co-relates with the deep dreamless or formless sleep state. Casual is the ground of all being. It is everything. Mystical experiences (which can happen anytime) are known as Formless Mysticism and are an experience of oneness with everything, of wholeness, not a separate ego self.

Witness (turiya) – The witness is consciousness awareness, the seer, the ultimate subject. As the subject it witnesses everything as objects. The witness is unchanging and ever present. It is nothingness. The more one resides as the subject the more the other bodies become objects.

Non-Dual (turiyatita) – Non duality is the paradox of existence. When the witness (subject) collapses into what it is witnessing (object) there is no longer a subject-object differentiation and that is Non-Dual.

Altered States – These include states brought about by drugs and near death experiences. Meditative States - These include states brought about by meditation, yoga, contemplation etc. Peak States – These include states that can be brought about by making love, walking in nature, listening to exquisite music, or flow (which is intense absorption into ones activity)

Types

Types is the final element of AQAL and is kind of like the wild card that determines the variations in differences between individuals, for even if someone is the same everywhere else, people are intrinsically different from each other and types tries to account for this. Some of the major forms of types analysis include masculine and feminine, the enneagram, myers-briggs and archetypes.

Masculine tend towards agency, rules, looking, individualism and women towards communion, connections, touching and relationship. Note that each of these tendencies are very different based on the level of development. Note that at the higher levels masculine and feminine merge. This is not to say that one becomes a bland boring asexual being, but that one can freely move between them, or can be one while being able to completely honor the other.

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a practical philosophy for improving ones quality of life by cultivating greater awareness, understanding and application of our entire being including spirit, mind and body